DIPLOMACY - SUCCESSION OF POSSIBLE MOVES
Support A1+!This is the opinion of head of the department of political programming Sarmen Baghdarasyan. Any work targeted at the elaboration of foreign political trajectory starts usually in this department.
-How many poles of forces to lead complimentary policy with does official Yerevan see at present?
-Complimentarity does not imply the essential presence of various poles. We should support this policy towards all the countries that show interest in our republic.
-Do these interests cross within our state?
-Certainly politics is the presence of contradictory positions. But there are problems of common nature and they cannot hinder cooperation.
-Do you have the possibility to separate contradictory and reconcilable interests in order to unite the positive ones.
-The complimentary policy pursued by our state should be viewed in the context of international global processes. For example, many countries have different attitude towards Iran though all are unanimous on stability. Common issues are peace and stability, anti-terror processes, poverty reduction, etc. The realization of these objectives by common efforts implies complimentary policy. We should cooperate with all the forces under the circumstances that coincide with our own foreign political interests.
-What priorities do we have?
-First of all it is the consolidation of the economic element. What does it mean? The settlement of energy issues, establishment of communications, foreign trade and investments. Then comes the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and relations with our neighbors followed by the relations with Turkey and the Armenian Genocide recognition. Membership in various international structures is as well important.
-Do you think complimentary policy is the absence of orientation?
-I can say it a multi-vectorial orientation. It means that we will speak out against any initiative that will draw a separating line not only between the states of the regions but also before the states adjacent to the region. Complimentarity is a working principle. It means that we should become a reliable and predictable partner, capable of attracting investments and cooperation.
-Can we say that Armenia has not oriented itself precisely yet over the geopolitical processes within the country.
-Yes, of course.
-Can we mark out any positive results achieved via the complimentary policy?
-These are several security lines including Armenia-Russia, RA-CSTO member-states, RA-NATO. From economic viewpoint it is energy cooperation with Russia and Iran, transport cooperation with Georgia, stimulation of trade and investments with the U.S. The list can be continued.
-Is the European Union the final goal of Armenia or adoption of European values is enough?
-Europe did not invite us to join its union. We cooperate with it to adapt to the European system of values. I do not rule out that we can join the EU.
Nane Makuchyan
